<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1P08b5_0vksGQN400" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1P08b5_0vksGQN400" width="986" height="555" >Nevada volleyball playerKinsley Singleton has quickly put the Mountain West on notice. The Wolf Pack rookie has twice won MW freshman of the week in the first month of the season, adding a defensive player of the week honor, too. The libero from Cincinnati by way of Phoenix committed to Nevada under the Wolf Pack's previous staff, Lee Nelson, and stuck with the program after its coaching change when Shannon Wyckoff-McNeal was hired. With a team-high 206 digs, Singleton has been a big part of Nevada's year-over-year improvement with the Wolf Pack already matching last season's win total of seven games before kicking off conference action, which begins Thursday at home against Wyoming.For her great start to the season, Singleton is Nevada Sports Net's Wolf Pack Athlete of the Month for September. You can watch her full interview below or read the Q&amp;A underneath that. This feature is presented in partnership with Champion Chevrolet.<h2>Q&amp;A with Kinsley Singleton</h2>Nevada Sports Net: What has your freshman season been like here at Nevada?Kinsley Singleton: It's been really good. All the seniors and upperclassmen and everyone who's been here have been so welcoming for all the freshmen. I know all of us think that, and just coming in has been such a good transition from high school. It's a lot different. It's a lot faster pace. And just a lot of volleyball and school. That's all we do.Nevada Sports Net: You've been a multiple-time Mountain West freshman of the week. What do you think has been the biggest reason why you've been able to step in as a freshman and be an impact player right away?Kinsley Singleton: Probably my team, just because it's hard to come in as a freshman and have such a big role. But all of them support me and I know they'll trust me in the back row. So, it just makes it way easier to come in and do my job when I know everyone around me trusts me to do it.Nevada Sports Net:You're a libero. That's mostly a defensive-oriented position. Tell us a little bit about your origin story with volleyball. How did you get into the sport?Kinsley Singleton: Mymain sport was basketball when I was little. I tried out volleyball just for fun. It was my side sport, and I just loved it right away. I loved playing with the team environment and everything. I was actually an outside hitter at first. I love getting kills and stuff, but I was just too short. So, my coach moved me to a libero, and ever since I loved digging balls.Nevada Sports Net: What do you think it was about volleyball that drew you to that sport and made you want to make it your focus?Kinsley Singleton: Probably just like the environment and just how fun it is to play.Nevada Sports Net: You're part of a new era at Nevada with Shannon Wyckoff-McNeal in her first year. The team has gotten off to a really good start in non-conference play. What drew you to this program, to the city of Reno and to her program in particular?Kinsley Singleton:When I came and visited, I knew it was the place for me. The environment, the culture, I was actually committed to the first coach, but when Shannon talked to me, I knew I needed to be back here because everything she said was what I wanted in a program. And how big sports are here and everyone around support sports. I just love it.Nevada Sports Net: You were born in the Cincinnati area in Ohio and then you moved to Arizona, the Phoenix area, when you were in sixth grade? You said you kind of escaped to get away from the colder weather. Here in Reno, the colder weather is coming up. What was it about the campus? Obviously volleyball is a big thing, but you're a student-athlete as well. What was it about the city and the campus that drew you here?Kinsley Singleton: It's just so pretty here. The campus is awesome. Honestly, for me, I did want a place that had four seasons because coming from Arizona, it's just hot all the time. I feel like I just wanted something different. I'm excited for the snow days and stuff because I haven't had that in a while. But just how pretty the campus is, it's awesome. All the facilities and everything for athletes is good, and you can tell they really support the athletes.Nevada Sports Net: You guys started the season 7-3 with seven wins all of last season before you got here. What do you think's been the biggest reason for the success early in this season, and how has that built the team's confidence as you prepare for Mountain West play?Kinsley Singleton: I think it's the coaching staff. They came in immediately, and you could tell there's a change and you can tell they really want the best for us. Even when we're doing good, we still are getting criticism. They want us to be the best we can. I think they are the reason we're doing so good, and they're the change that we needed.Nevada Sports Net: What do you like about the coaching staff and their coaching style and how they're trying to get the best out of you?Kinsley Singleton: Each coach has a different way of coaching. So, Jason (Sterrett), he yells a lot and he's really passionate about the sport and you can tell. Shannon, she really is technical and she helps with everything. She tells us in a way that really makes sense to us. And you can tell that everyone appreciates how she works the program. Then Norene (Iosia) helps with the setters a lot and she is a really good coach to help you get out of a mental funk or something.Nevada Sports Net: The team has been on the road a lot to start this season. That's how non-conference play usually works with a lot of tournaments. You guys are coming back home. What are you most looking forward to in your first home match at Nevada?Kinsley Singleton: I'm looking forward to seeing how the fans come out. Coming from being a freshman, I'm just excited to see how it is playing in college in your first home match.Nevada Sports Net: You're not the first college athlete in your family. Your dad was a linebacker at San Jose State. Nevada football and San Jose State play in two weekends. Do you know which way he's going to be rooting? Have you guys talked about that at all?Kinsley Singleton: Yes, we have. Nevada all the way. My dad supports me through everything, so he'll always choose me over his own team.Nevada Sports Net: You guys play the Spartans only once this year, Oct. 26, so he'll get a chance to root you on. Have they been able to see any matches yet in college?Kinsley Singleton: Yes, my parents, out of the four weekends, they've been the two. They've come and traveled and they'll be at the first home match and probably the one on Saturday, too.Nevada Sports Net: Some quick-hitting questions before we let you go. Do you have a pre-match ritual or something you do before every match?Kinsley Singleton: I love visualization, and I've learned that from in high school. My high school coach really made mental stuff important. Shannon really gets us into visualization, too. I think that really helps me focus and calm down before a match because you can always get caught up in the excitement and your nerves. But right before, just taking a second for yourself and really focusing on your mental mind game is really important.Nevada Sports Net: Favorite class you've taken so far at the university?Kinsley Singleton: I haven't been to too many classes, but when I am here, I really like my sociology class. It's just interesting, and my teacher is really funny.Nevada Sports Net: Favorite holiday?Kinsley Singleton: My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving because my mom is one of the best cooks I know and she goes all out.Nevada Sports Net: Favorite item that she makes?Kinsley Singleton: Mashed potatoes and gravy.Nevada Sports Net: Your dream job?Kinsley Singleton: I want to sell dermatology products for your face. I wanted to be a dermatologist, but just with volleyball, that schooling is just too much right now. So, I think being a businesswoman.Nevada Sports Net:Last one: best thing about living in Reno?Kinsley Singleton: The best thing about living in Reno right now I think it's the weather because it's really nice right now. But I don't know how that might change when it gets cold and snowy. I'm not used to that. I'm used to the really hot.</div></body>

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Q&A with Kinsley Singleton, Nevada volleyball freshman who is quickly winning accolades

Nevada volleyball playerKinsley Singleton has quickly put the Mountain West on notice. The Wolf Pack rookie has twice won MW freshman of the week in the first month of the season, adding a defensive player of the week honor, too. The libero from Cincinnati by way of Phoenix committed to Nevada under the Wolf Pack's previous staff, Lee Nelson, and stuck with the program after its coaching change when Shannon Wyckoff-McNeal was hired. With a team-high 206 digs, Singleton has been a big part of Nevada's year-over-year improvement with the Wolf Pack already matching last season's win total of seven games before kicking off conference action, which begins Thursday at home against Wyoming.